Spread-winged skipper

Spread-winged skippers
Carcharodus alceae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Hesperioidea
(unranked):	Rhopalocera
Family:	Hesperiidae
Subfamily:	Pyrginae
Tribes
"Celaenorrhini" (disputed) Eudamini Pyrgini Tagiadini

Spread-winged skippers, Pyrginae, are a subfamily of the skipper butterfly family (Hesperiidae). The tribe "Celaenorrhini" is usually included in the Eudamini entirely or for the largest part, including the type genus Celaenorrhinus. The family was established by Hermann Burmeister in 1878. Spread-winged skippers bask with their wings held wide open. The wings are held closed when they are at rest. They are usually brown, black, or checkered, but some are brilliantly coloured. Some have long tailed hind wings.

Males maintain territories and frequently perch on overhanging branches and tree trunks. They do not visit flowers for substanance, but rather eat dung, carrion, and rotting fruit.

Cogia and other Central American genera of Pyrginae. Plate from Biologia Centrali-Americana

A number of genera are of uncertain affiliations. These include:

• Abantis Hopffer, 1855
• Alenia Evans, 1935
• Calleagris Aurivillius, [1925]
• Carcharodus Hübner, [1819]
• Chaetocneme Felder, 1860
• Eagris Guenée, 1862
• Eretis Mabille, 1891
• Euschemon Doubleday, 1846
• Exometoeca Meyrick, 1888
• Katreus Watson, 1893
• Netrobalane Mabille, 1903
• Netrocoryne C. & R. Felder, [1867]
• Procampta Holland, 1892

References

• Savela, Markku (2007): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Pyrginae. Version of 2007-JUN-12. Retrieved 2008-JAN-24.

External links

• TOL
• Subfamily Pyrginae from Bugguide.net
• Cirrus Digital Imaging Reference photographs: Skippers of North America
• Epargyreus clarus, silver-spotted skipper on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site